How To Fix EARC018 - Print doc. headers must have a longer retention period than doc.line itms

EARC018 - Overview

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: EARC - IS-U: Archiving

• Message number: 018

• Message text: Print doc. headers must have a longer retention period than doc.line itms

Self-Explanatory Message

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EARC018 - Details

• The SAP error message EARC018 indicates that there is a mismatch in the retention periods set for document headers and document line items in the context of document archiving. Specifically, the retention period for the document headers must be longer than that of the document line items. This is a requirement in SAP to ensure that the header information remains available for as long as the line item information is retained.
  
  Cause:
  
  Retention Period Configuration: The retention periods for document headers and line items are configured in the SAP system. If the retention period for the document header is set to a shorter duration than that of the line items, this error will occur.
  Archiving Settings: The archiving settings for the specific document type may not be correctly configured, leading to this inconsistency.
  
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Retention Periods:
  
  Go to the transaction code SARA (Archive Administration).
  Select the relevant object (e.g., accounting documents, purchase orders, etc.).
  Check the retention